The Mock Turtle

The Mock Turtle, from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, appeared in Dreamchild. The Mock Turtle, along with the Gryphon, are the first Wonderland characters encountered in the dreams and imaginations of the now elderly Alice Hargreaves. The perpetually sobbing turtle symbolizes the Rev. Charles Dodgson, who stutteringly performs the character's song to a young adult Alice's derision.

After making her peace with Dodgson's memory, following an Oxford University choris' performance of "The Mock Turtle Song," Alice dreams again, with Dodgson in a crouching position akin to that of the turtle. The grinning Dodgson turns around, and joins Alice and the Gryphon in joyous laughter. The mock turtle himself, however, remains morose, prompting his companion to tell him to shut up.